River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-08-25

4 tears.
Mrs. Rome, who could not endure t
see her pretty darling worried, prom
ised to make all right with Estelle, am
tried To 10 so. But it was not quite $
easy a matter.
Mr.. Felix Esprie had written on tn
eve of his departure. and directed it Il
an old address of Estelle's. whence, b,
the merest chance. it had drifted to he
present one Ii was letterOf farewell
and despair.
lit is of no use," Miss Despard said
HE will go and marry Natalie now
She is younger than l am, and looks a
| used to. He will never want TO SCI
me again after he has once seen her
Never mind"
And she tossed her head, and laughed
shrilly.
See here. Esteile. said Mrs. Rome
little anxiously; .you are not laying
up anything against Violet. l hope
You must forgive her for her share in
this affair. OF course she only meant
a Jest. She had no idea of any seriou,
consequences from her foolishness.
.Forgive her?" said Miss Despard,
looking down to hide the blaze in her
ewes. ..Qh. certainly 1t is nothing.
| You see how Little 1 mind il, Mrs.
| Rome"
Three months after Mrs Rome died.
and was buried; and in due course of
time her will was called for, but could
not be found. Her lawyer testified to
/ sha hat h, b,I .t,uh N
/ document. But where was it? With
out it pretty petted Violet would be a
/ beggar, and the large property, which
/ it had always been supposed would
come to her at Mrs. Rone's death.
would 90 TO a distant relative whom
the deceased lady had never even seen.
1t was most unlikely that Mrs. Rome
had destroyed her will. There was no
reason why she should have hidden it,
and she was too methodical a woman
to have mislaid il.
She had always kept it in a desk in
her own sitting-rOom-in a desk which
had belonged to her husband, but it
was not there now. nor anywhere else,
apparently.
The search had to be abandoned at last,
and Violet Earle found herself face to
face with starvation, or as good as that,
for she did not know how to do any
thing well enough to earn her living by
it, and she had no relatives that she
knew Of
In this strait Miss Despard, to every
bOdy's establishment, promptly came
forward.
Il have got a few pounds saved. :"
she said. lit was for my marriage;
but that will never be now. | shall
hire some rooms and furnish them. and
take pupils in French and music. If
you would like TO come with me. Violet
Earle. you may"
Violet shuddered and was silent.
Then. after little, she lifted her head.
and looked EsteIle Despard steadily in
the face.
You know l will not" she said:
lard you know why | will not.
.0h. yely well, " said Miss Despard,
tossing her head as usual, and laugh
ing her short. shrill laugh.
Violet went nearer.
Where Is Mamma Rone's will?"
she asked, in low. stern voice. Have
YOU destroyed it?''
.'I?'' exclaimed the Frenchwoman,
turning white; Il don't know what you
mean?'
You said you would hurt me if YOU
ever could. l believe you have de-
trOyed Mamma ROne's will"
Miss Despard's black eyes sparkled.
She laughed defiantly.
You had better try to prove it.
Il can't prove it, and / shan't try"
said Violet; .'but | believe you have
done it. | know you hate me.
The Frenchwoman cast down her
eyes, and drew in her lips.
You wrOnged me very much once,
Miss Earle. she said, land in nv an
ger | may have said what | ought not;
but | forgive you, now you are in so
much trouble, and | am sorry you think
| would touch the will. | don't know
anything about it.
liam satisfied that You have destroy
eel Mamma ROne's will as if had seen
YOU do it, Violet said, slowly; .'but
perhaps it will be my turn next.
And 30 they parted. and Violet Earle
went out into the world to try and earn
her own living.
She was very brave at first. She tried
being companion, governess. nursery
gOverness. She tried to teach music.
drawing. French, but failed ignomini-
Ously in all.
One by one she sold her iewelrv.
her dresses. and all the costly fineries
that had pertained to her heiress-ship.
She grew poorer and poorer. till at
last hope and courage even failed her,
and She said. i'm her misery ana despair:
There is nothing left me but to die"
One night she went to sell the last
thing of value that she possessed
small gold ring. her first gift from her
adopted mother. and priced according
"; but it must 90 now.
As she stood a moment before the
pawnbroker's window. looking sadly
in. a gentleman who was passing stop
ped suddenly, staring at her with ex-
cited eyes.
Then. as she entered the shop, he
turned. and followed her in. watching
her intently, listening eagerly when she
spoke. and at last stepping up to her,
and addressing her in French:
Il cannot be mistaken" he began.
But before he could get a word
further Violet looked up and saw
him.
OH she cried. with her eyes di-
lating as if she saw ghost.
You have not gone to France. You
are here YETI
Mr.. Felix Esprie-for it was he
stared. She had spoken in English,
but he understood the language better
than he could speak il
Il have been to France and return
ed. " he answered her i'm his own tongue.
Il come back to look for Mdlle. Despard
again. l have heard a rumOr that she
Is dead Canyon perhaps tell me?'
Are you married? Have you mar
ried Natalie?" Violet asked, hurried
".
No. certainly. / could only marry
Estelle If she Is dead shall never
marry. Do you know about it. madam
| oiselle?''
Violet Earle felt very bitter toward
Estelle DeSpard. A great many times
she had said To herself:
-. how | hate herr How hope my
turn will GOMEZ
I = -